There was a time when I felt like the Apostle Paul when he wrote the words of today’s verse. I wondered if I could ever break free from a constant sense of failure and a feeling that I simply didn’t “measure up” to what God wanted from me. I even wondered at times if God was frustrated with me for not making more progress. After struggling with these thoughts for a while, I finally developed a new attitude. Realizing God was happy just to see me making any progress at all, I started saying, “I am not where I want to be, but thank God, I’m not where I used to be. I’m okay and I’m on my way!”
I know now with all my heart that God is not angry with me because I have not arrived. He is pleased that I am pressing on, that I am staying on the path. If you and I will just “keep on keeping on,” God will be pleased with our progress.

God knows our spiritual growth and maturity will take time. He doesn’t expect us to arrive at our destination quickly. We don’t think something is wrong when a one-year-old child cannot walk perfectly. We expect him to fall down frequently; when he does we lovingly pick him up, dust him off, and set him on his feet to try again. Without a doubt, God treats us with just as much affection and grace—always willing to set us on our feet again and encourage us as we keep putting one foot in front of the other.